"Raptor migration is one of the greatest spectacles on earth and witnessing a big raptor flight is an experience of a lifetime!" - Jerry Liguori

Come hawk watch with us! Visitors are always welcome at our migration sites. Our migration crew will help you learn the tips of raptor identification.

Before you go hawk watching, visit our Raptor ID Fact Sheets page to read about each species and learn some identification tricks.

Purchasing a field guide is a good investment and tool to help you out in the field. There are several great raptor identification field guides available, such as the books for sale at our HWI store, or our new raptor ID app available in the iTunes Store and Google Play. When you purchase from us, you support our work!

We host hawk watching field trips and ID programs throughout the year. View our events calendar for upcoming programs.

What is a hawkwatch?

A hawkwatch is a systematic and organized effort to collect standardized migration count data about diurnal raptors. HawkWatch International records species identities of sex, age and color morph, numbers quantities, and behaviors of seasonal migrant raptors. We also collect data on weather and observation conditions. Several of our hawkwatch sites also conduct trapping and banding operations, giving visitors the opportunity to see a live raptor up-close before it is released back on its migration journey south.

Our annual migration research data is publically shared with several partners, including HawkCount and the Raptor Population Index, to contribute to effective conservation of migratory raptors through continent-wide long-term monitoring of raptor migration, scientifically sound assessments of population status, and public outreach and education.